His two governors were making alternative plans and preparing to cover their own rears. Neither was particularly betraying him or his interests and if he were a stereotypical villain of their media he'd no doubt have to crush them. He wasn't, they weren't, and so that wasn't going to happen.
That his governors were doing such merely proved that he had not selected slackers and that these were exactly what he'd desired for the position. Responsible humans who could see that everything that they did had repercussions and would act accordingly.
Actually, most of the humans would be surprised to find out that he'd been completely honest earlier. He thought it extremely likely that humanity would snuff itself out or turn its back on the stars within the next two centuries. They certainly weren't doing all that well right now.
Hence an intervention.
The ships were being made ready. If he lost, well, he could leave the simple mass drivers and mining equipment on their moon. Just disable the more advanced systems so they'd have to bridge the gaps with their own devices. He'd put the ships out in a near Pluto orbit. Close enough to be accessible, far enough that humanity would have to struggle and grow in order to reach them. He'd leave them with the knowledge that humanity was not alone and that there was a big universe out there with its own dangers and treasures waiting to be found.
Back to the governors. Kemp had probably already determined that his Cho unit was 100% loyal to him personally. The German governor had a similar attache. Perhaps he ought to select one for Africa, though he had planned on losing that particular match. Ah well, that was part of the appeal of this species - so many surprises in such a young package.
Hmmm, an incoming call to a repair center? There was a way he could still lose this match.
Ami stared at the sim. "Oh dear."
"You lost?!" Usagi screamed.
"I won..." Ami quickly checked the moves. "MOTHER?!"
A wincing form moved from the side area. "You did realize that you were losing pretty badly."
"How did?" Ami gestured towards the game console.
"I called Customer Support and asked for help," said Ami's mother. "I explained that I was taking over for you and that I was unfamiliar with video games."
Several of the Senshi fell over at such a simple tactic and apparently its success.
Usagi blinked and timidly raised her hand. "So we won Africa? Now what do we do with it?"
"Nothing, we won that means they get to rule themselves!" declared Rei.
"They're rioting all over Africa," said Minako, having switched on the TV. "Apparently the idea of no more starvation, disease, and poverty was more popular than their leaders let on."
Ami held up her own hand. "There's no way that should have worked so that means that what Governor Kemp said was accurate. Our opponent is actually cheating in our favor." Which left the definite possibility that his remarks about assassins were equally accurate.
"ARRGGHHHH!" declared Haruka. "This is all so wrong! Evil Overlords shouldn't invite us to dinner! They shouldn't concede fights! They shouldn't be helpful!"
"There's an interview of Kachoo," pointed out Minako as she continued to watch TV. "He's congratulating Sailor Mercury on using such an incredible surprise strategy and is speculating that you deliberately cludged the contest in the middle to create 'dramatic tension' or something."
Ami hung her head.
"And our enemies shouldn't be going around praising us for how clever we are!" Haruka continued to rant.
Ami's mother cleared her throat. "Shouldn't you be planning strategies for this weekend's magical battle for the fate of North America? That includes not only the continental United States but Canada and Mexico apparently."
"Uhm, 'strategies'?" asked Usagi as if it were an unfamiliar word.
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(Posted Tue, 05 Aug 2003 12:32)
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